Macleay Options awarded ETC’s Employer of the Month

The
not-for-profit community organisation has been supporting people with
disability across the region since 1962 and has since grown to employ over 150
staff.

Sales
and Marketing Manager Fiona Welsh said the business had seen a strong growth in
recent years.

“We’ve
been able to create an additional 100 positions just in the last five years
alone. The rapid growth is mainly due to the introduction of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and all the support services we can now
offer as part of this program such as drop in support for people with
disability, day programs and life choices, day outings and short holidays,” Ms
Welsh said.

“The
organisation was started by a group of parents who shared the common goal and
vision of creating opportunities for children with an intellectual disability
at a time when special education facilities in Kempsey and surrounding areas
were very limited.

“Over
the years, we began to offer additional vocational and accommodation services
and since the Education Department took over our special education role in
1983, we have focused solely on providing adults with training and employment
in supportive environments.”

Ms
Welsh said she was very humbled to receive the award and recognition from ETC.

“Another
impact that cannot be overestimated is the social inclusion and wellbeing that
comes from many of the organisation’s client based programs,” she said.

“We
hear countless reports of the enhanced self-worth that comes with having
employment and the person sense of contribution to their families’ wellbeing.
One client said to me that if they didn’t work for us they would be sitting at
home staring at walls.”

Ms
Welsh shares her tips for managing work/life balance:

Listen to your HR department when they give you
advice and information

Try to leave work on time

Make sure you have your lunch break

Take annual leave breaks when you need them

When home, don’t look at any of your work
related devices, concentrate on your family

Remember to have some “you” time doing what you
enjoy, hobbies and interests